Soccer — Domestic league

Riquelme returning this season uncertain

Juan Román Riquelme is nursing a new injury. He may have a broken left foot which would keep him out of the game for the rest of the season with two matches to play in the Final Tournament.

Boca Juniors’ Juan Román Riquelme seems to have a possible left foot breakage which would keep him out of the game for the rest of the season and it was rumoured that he refused to have medical tests over the week-end.

The Boca Juniors squad returns to training today uncertain whether midfield playmaker Riquelme will be able to play again this season. He was rested for last Sunday’s match after not being to walk properly and it was rumoured that he refused to have tests over the week-end and also that the injury could be worse than originally feared. Team doctors have so far kept silent due to it being a delicate subject.

Riquelme walked off during a practice match last Thursday when another player stepped on his foot. The problem is in the top of his left foot and a break would keep him out for the rest of the season. Riquelme, who is now 35, was keen to play in view of the uncertainty of his contract, which expires on June 30, being renewed. Club president Daniel Angelici and several committee members do not want to renew it, not only because of his age and frequent injuries, but also because he divides the squad into two groups. But the majority of fans want it renewed and have made their voices heard in no uncertain manner.

Riquelme has been an idol of the club for a long time because of his outstanding organizing play and even this season, when injury has often kept him out, Boca Juniors have won most of their points when he played. In fact, last Sunday was the first time that Boca Juniors won without Riquelme in the Final Championship.

Late on Sunday night, Boca Juniors won their third match on the run for the first time in the current tournament, beating All Boys 3-1 at the latter’s stadium which sent them down into the National B Division. Juan Manuel Martínez, playing well for once, scored after three and 15 minutes of the second half and Emmanuel Gigliotti after 36. Jonathan Calleri had temporarily equalized five minutes after the break. For All Boys it was their ninth successive match without a victory.

The result left Boca Juniors with 26 points — five behind joint leaders River Plate and Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata with two matches to go. This would give them a mathematical chance of the title, but not a realistic one as at least the two leaders would have to lose their remaining two games while Boca Juniors would have to win them.

Belgrano Córdoba and Tigre were playing later last night to complete the tournament’s 17th round.